Nokia True Wireless Earbuds 

HIGHLIGHTS

  1. The Nokia True Wireless Earbuds come with a cylindrical charging case
  2. The earphones connect over Bluetooth to any compatible device
  3. The Nokia True Wireless Earbuds support Bluetooth 5, but not aptX

While many major headphone manufacturers do sell wireless and truly wireless earphones, an increasing number of smartphone makers have taken to the market in recent months. It all started with the Apple AirPods, which although not the first truly wireless earphones, have been credited with making this kind of product popular. The obvious inference is that smartphone makers' audio products — though built using popular standards — will work best with their own smartphones, which is why we've seen brands such as Xiaomi and Samsung get into the space.
The latest in that list is HMD Global, which recently launched the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds. Priced at Rs. 9,999, the True Wireless Earbuds offer simplicity and ease of use, along with above-average battery life. We review the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds to find out if these earphones are indeed a better option than the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Buds, Apple AirPods, and any of the other high-end options available today.

Nokia True Wireless Earbuds design and specifications

Truly wireless earphones are typically larger than the earbuds of regular wireless earphones, but the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds defy that expectation with very compact casings. The earbuds aren't discernibly larger or heavier than even the earbuds of typical wired earphones, which is quite an achievement given that each one has to have its own battery and circuitry inside it. While much of the casings is metal, their backs are plastic and each one has a Nokia logo and microphone hole. Each earbud has a button and ‘L' and ‘R' markings as well.

The sales package includes the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds, the cylindrical charging case, a USB Type-C charging cable, two extra pairs of silicone ear tips, and instruction manuals. The charging case is quite unique compared to what we've seen from competing products. It's longer, and contains a battery that can charge both earbuds four times over. The bottom of the case has indicator lights to let you know the battery level of the case and whether the buds are charging, which is a convenient touch.

Verdict
The Nokia True Wireless Earbuds are an interesting option that doesn't cost a lot of money, but isn't cheap either. With design, comfort, simplicity, and good sound, the True Wireless Earbuds are an excellent option to consider for users of a wide variety of smartphones, audio players, and laptops. Although limited to the SBC codec, the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds offer capable sound quality compared to most other pairs of truly wireless earphones that are currently available.
If you have an Apple iPhone or Samsung smartphone that supports the Scalable codec, AirPods and Galaxy Buds respectively would be better options. For every other smartphone, you won't find a better option for the price than the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds. While there are some minor flaws in functionality and the lack of codec support beyond SBC to consider, the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds still come through as a capable pair of truly wireless earphones.
Price: Rs. 9,999
Pros
  • Small, light, and comfortable
  • Tight bass, crisp treble
  • Wide, open soundstage
  • Good battery life with the charging case
  • Easy-to-use controls
  • Bluetooth 5 support
Cons
  • Only SBC codec support
  • Too much background sound on voice calls
Ratings (out of 5)
  • Design/ comfort: 4.5
  • Audio quality: 3.5
  • Battery life: 4
  • Value for money: 4
  • Overall: 4